Thomas Marshall Adams Jr. was born on December 8, 1927, to Thomas M. Adams and Marguerite May Riley in Los Angeles, California. Tom passed away on August 8, 2024, at the beautiful age of 96. Tom was pre-deceased by his older sister, Margorie Thompson and younger sister, Ruth Adams. Tom lost his father while he was a young boy of 9 years old. Thomas went by the name of Tom but those who knew him from a young age called him Tommy, even into his adult and eventually his married life.

As a young man, Tom drove with a friend to Austin, Minnesota where he met the love of his life, Joan Beverly Sathre ("Joan"). Tom returned to Los Angeles and waited for the right time to return to Minnesota to marry Joan on November 1, 1952. They then returned to the Los Angeles area where they held a wedding reception and looked to start their family together.

Tom and Joan raised four children starting with daughter Dorothy (Eric) Price, son Thomas ("Tommy") Adams, daughter Barbara (Candelario) Molina, and son David (Young Mi) Adams. Tom's wife of 70 years passed away peacefully less than a year ago on the morning of October 20, 2023. He was also predeceased by his son Tommy and his son-in-law Candelario ("Candy") Molina. Tom is survived by his remaining three children, eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Each of them held a special place in his heart and he in theirs.

Tom started working at Sargent, a machine shop, at the 16-years old by sweeping up medal shavings from under the machines. He moved his way up to "bidding for jobs" before he retired from Sargent after 44 years. He and Joan eventually moved to Boulder City, Nevada, where he worked a few different jobs like a short order cook and bartender at a local hotel. His favorite job while living in Boulder City was working as a deck hand and in the engine room of the Desert Princess, an authentic, three-level, Mississippi-style paddle-wheeler as it provided tours of Lake Mead. Tom and Joan eventually returned from Boulder City, Nevada and moved back to California, where they lived with David and Young Mi Adams in Aliso Viejo, California.

Tom had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. As a young boy, he raised rabbits and homing pigeons while also delivering papers via his paper route. As he grew into a young married man, he bowled in leagues and played on baseball teams with his co-workers from Sargent. During his time in Nevada, he bought a boat and spent many hours relaxing and fishing on Lake Mead. He even set up an air-conditioned woodworking shop attached to his garage so that he could create master pieces, both large and small, that his impressed family are proud to show others.

Tom loved to travel with his wife Joan. A lot of their travels included cruises and camping, mainly in the United States. Tom loved to take photos and was proud of the many photo albums that he compiled from their travels. A lot of their travels was spent with their good friends of seventy years, Dick and Betty Reeves.

One thing that was always important to Tom was that he pay his own way in life. He did just that from the time of losing his father as a young boy to caring for his wife Joan and their family. Many people that had a chance to meet Tom were impressed with his attitude on life and the wealth of knowledge he accumulated during his 96 years of life.

Tom's Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 2:00pm, with a reception immediately following at:

McCormick and Son Mortuary

25002 Moulton Parkway

Laguna Hills, CA. 92637

To view webcasting of service, click HERE.